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I Sometimes Wonder What the Hell Is Wrong With People

Charlie's Story


When I was 15, I got my first job at a local supermarket. I cashiered every day, and met many, many wonderful people.

Allison and Charlie were special, though. They were an old couple, whom had been married for 35 years. Allison couldn't walk very well, and her and Charlie rode around on motorized carts while looking for me. They were so sweet with their smiles and questions about my life. They remembered things, too, that I told them. Every time I saw them, they would ask about the things I had brought up when we saw each other, previously.

I stopped working at the store 4 years later, and had moved on. I thought about them once in a while, but never got any contact information.

I still shop there, and would see them there quite frequently. Running into them was one of the things that always made my day, no matter what. They continued to follow my life details, asking about school and work. It amazed me how much I meant to them.

Two years ago, I was in the store with an ex boyfriend of mine, shopping for groceries. I barely recognized Charlie, as he was not in a motorized cart; he was shopping with a regular one. I walked up to him, and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and his face lit up. We exchanged hugs and hellos and began catching up. As I was watching his face turn more serious, he said, "I lost Allison, you know." My face dropped, and I felt emotion run to my face as I teared up. "Oh, no, I am so sorry." He told me she had died of medical problems, and that he hadn't taken it so well. He mentioned that he was living in their house, and he was super lonely. He was in the process of moving, because he just couldn't stand to be in the house without her anymore. We chatted for a few more minutes, him reassuring me he was alright and didn't need anything but to get out of the house. We hugged and said our goodbyes, him kissing me on the cheek before he walked away.

My heart was broken, but I got the pleasure of seeing him a few more random times after that. He seemed pretty upbeat, but said he had still been lonely. He said he was fixing that problem by joining church groups and community stuff. I was pleased to see him growing out of his grieving process.

It has been a year since I have seen him, until today.

I had to grab some cat food and was planning to run in and run back out quickly. As I was walking to the registers, I saw him walking through the door. "Hey!" I yelled at him. He looked at me and grinned wide, opening his arms for a hug. I grabbed him and he squeezed around me, asking, "How are you, sweetheart?" I told him I was good, and asked how he had been. He told me he had been married and divorced. "Already?!" I asked, shocked. I was impressed that he had moved on, but more confused than anything.

"Yep. Lasted three months."
"What happened?"

I watched his face as he told me a woman had scammed him. He found out after their marriage that he was her 5th husband, and that she was only after money. He told me that this woman had married him, then told him three months later she didn't want to be with him anymore, and then sold most of his valuables in an auction. She had told the man picking up the auction items that her "husband was dead".

He then told me that most of the items she sold were things that he and Allison had been saving and collection together their whole marriage. How heartbreaking!

I asked what the latest was, now. He had taken her to court, and the judge demanded that she pay him back $8,000...he had obviously won the case.

She was suppose to start paying him back by the end of December, but hasn't heard a word, nor seen of her, since. He told me that she has done this type of thing to other men before and was wanting to get the word out about her.

We chatted a few more minutes before he walked me to the check out. He hugged me goodbye, kissed me on the cheek, and told me he loved me. I am still heartbroken for him. I still can't believe that there are people in this world like that. I have never in my life met a man as sweet as Charlie.

Nor do I doubt that Allison is turning over in her grave.
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Damascus
a) people do crazy stuff when lonely and desperate
b) some people in this world should be shipped to a mining colony on Mars XD